Weekly Witness

March 26, 2026

Sunday, March 26, 2026

Palm Sunday

2¢ a Meal Offering

Cuba Partners Network

Scripture: Mark 11: 1-10

Sunday: Livestream; Bulletin

Last Week's Sermon: The Phoenix Factor

Interim Pastor: Rev. Frank Yates

Liturgist: Denise Baker

Psalmist: Dave Shambach

Greeters: Marie Fry & Karen Williams

Ushers: Mike & Liz Bushma, Michael Hughes, Crystal Mitchell

Early Morning Security: Dave Sternberg

Flowers: In honor of Susan Smith

March Sanctuary Stewards: Birgitta Gustafson and Sharon Hovey

April Sanctuary Stewards: Russ & Betty Gobeille

To view Sunday morning service, simply click on the word Livestream above. You can always go to the church website;

Main page; scroll down to Next Livestream Service to access

the upcoming Sunday service.

Pastor to People

Dear RRPC Family and Friends,

The center of the church's liturgical celebration has always been Holy Week.

During this week we follow Jesus as he enters Jerusalem triumphantly (Palm Sunday) and then interacts with the people mainly in the Temple.If you read the Gospel accounts, we see that Jesus engages in sometimes heated debate with the religious leaders of the people. All this takes place during the Passover season when many pilgrims gather in Jerusalem.

Then on Maundy Thursday he eats his Last Supper with his disciples and then goes to the Garden of Gethsemane for prayer. Jesus knows that his time has come when Judas will lead an armed gang to arrest him. Then he is taken away to be interrogated first by the religious leaders and then the Roman governor. On Good Friday he is put to death on a cross, a slow and tortuous crucifixion. 

But then on Easter morning the light of dawn brings utterly astonishing news that Jesus has appeared first to the women and then others. He is alive and everything has changed. Death has been conquered and sin has been forgiven. This is the heart of the Good News. And that is why we call it Holy Week.

I hope your Holy Week is filled with meaning and hope. I look forward to our Maundy Thursday service at 7pm, our Sunrise service on Easter morning at 7am and then our 10am celebration.

So much to be thankful for! Why? Because it is indeed Holy Week.

Peace and hope,

Frank

Maundy Thursday Service

April 2, 2026

7pm

Join us for our Maundy Thursday worship service as we gather in reflection and remembrance. All are welcome to come and share in this meaningful time together.

🌿 Church Clean-Up Day – Let’s Serve Together!

THIS Saturday, March 28th

9am-12pm

Our church is more than just a building — it’s a place of worship, fellowship, and community. Now it’s our turn to give back!

We’re inviting everyone to join us for Church Clean-Up Day — a day of teamwork, laughter, and service as we freshen up our church home inside and out.

✨ Why Volunteer?

• Serve God through action
• Strengthen friendships within our church family
• Take pride in keeping our worship space welcoming and beautiful
• Be a blessing to everyone who walks through our doors

Many hands make light work! Whether you can give an hour or the whole morning, your help truly makes a difference.

THANK YOU!

Free Bell Concert

Heights Cumberland Church

Saturday, March 28th

4pm

Six members of our bell choir will be working hard on 6 pieces from 9am - 3pm at the Spring Ring at Heights Cumberland Church, Albuquerque. Come on out and support them as they perform with bell choirs from Santa Fe to El Paso, TX! We'd love to see you there!! Thank you!

THIS Sunday, March 29^th

Susan Keil Smith

will be presenting

a slideshow and discussion

about her recent visit to

Cuba

Please join us after worship

in classrooms A and B

Your Mission Committee

Action Alert: Humanitarian Crisis in Cuba

U.S. policy is driving a humanitarian crisis in Cuba. Across the island, essential systems, including health care, electricity, water, and food distribution, are being pushed toward collapse. While Cuba faces its own internal challenges, a deliberate U.S. strategy of “maximum pressure” is targeting the island’s fuel supply and building on decades of financial restrictions that have isolated it from the global economy. The resulting shortages of fuel, combined with tightened banking, trade, and travel restrictions, are disrupting the flow of food, medicine, and other necessities. What began as economic pressure has become a life-threatening humanitarian emergency.Nationwide blackouts are now compromising intensive care units and emergency rooms and endangering the refrigeration needed to keep vaccines and medicines safe. The loss of power is also cutting off access to clean water for millions of people, as water systems across the island depend on electricity that has become unreliable. The World Food Program (WFP) warns that these shortages are making it extremely difficult to distribute food, leaving nursing homes, schools, and hospitals struggling to provide enough for those who need it most.

For more than six decades, U.S. policy has centered on an economic embargo meant to isolate Cuba. What began as a political tool has become a system that places the heaviest burden on ordinary Cuban people, not those in power. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has opposed the embargo since 1969, and for decades it has affirmed that broad economic sanctions which harm civilians violate human dignity and disproportionately impact the most vulnerable. It has consistently held that policies which rely on widespread deprivation to achieve political ends are unjust. In February, the PC(USA) joined other denominations in a Call to Stand with the Cuban People.

Congress now has an opportunity to take a different course. The Freedom to Export to Cuba Act (H.R. 7521 and S. 136), introduced by Rep. Jim McGovern and Sen. Ron Wyden, offers a concrete step forward. These bills would begin to lift the U.S. embargo, making it easier for food, medicine, and other basic necessities to reach people, and opening the door to more normal relations between the United States and Cuba. At the same time, a War Powers Resolution (S.J.Res. 124), introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine, would ensure that any move toward military action against Cuba requires explicit approval from Congress and would require an end to unauthorized hostilities.

Contact your Senators and Representative and urge them to support legislation to stand with the Cuban people and prevent unauthorized military action. The people of Cuba should not bear the cost of policies carried out in our name.

Lenten Devotionals

Our Lenten devotionals start on Ash Wednesday and continue through Easter Sunday. Feel free to print these out or ask Ginny (401-345-9935) for a hard copy.

Week Seven Sunday, March 29- Saturday, April 4th

Easter Sunday, April 5th

OFFERING

3 opportunities to give

March 22^nd | March 29^th | April 5^th

Thank you for your generosity!

Your Mission Committee

One Great Hour of Sharing

WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE OF YOU?

“… TO DO JUSTICE …” – MICAH 6:8 

The prophet Micah calls for a life that is focused on justice and mercy. It’s a call to action, urging us to live out our faith in a way that reflects God’s love, to put justice into practice.

We can all respond to the prophet’s call through simple acts of kindness and by showing care and compassion to others. Small gestures like speaking up for someone who needs a voice, sharing a meal with someone who is hungry or offering relief to those in crisis are all works of justice. Although they may start out as small acts, they make a big difference and have a profound impact on the world around us.

Such actions work to create more supportive communities and can be the foundation for addressing the larger justice issues that exist everywhere.

We are all aware of the many ways our church works to ensure that all of God’s people can flourish. One Great Hour of Sharing is centered in the call to do just that, to do our part to create justice so every person can truly live. The Offering supports the causes of hunger and poverty alleviation, disaster relief, community development, climate change, immigration/migration and refugee advocacy. These vital areas of ministry — chosen by the General Assembly — go a long way to ensure that every person is able to live into the fullness of life that is God’s promise to all of us.

Because we believe that all people are created and loved by God, our faith compels us to work toward justice for all in the way of Christ Jesus. This is what the Lord requires of us. To do justice, but also to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.

This Easter, may we do our part to be the Church together by supporting One Great Hour of Sharing and the justice ministries it supports.

If we all give a little, it adds up to a lot. Please give generously! Thank you!!

2026 Soup Sale Results

A huge Thank You to everyone who supported the Scholarship Committees’ soup sales this year. We raised enough money to fully fund at least 2 scholarships.

Laura Gonzales, co-Chair

Don Underwood, co-Chair

and the entire Scholarship Committee

April's Book:

Wild Dark Shore, by Charlotte McConaghy

We will be meeting at Nancy Henriksen's home on April 21st at 2pm. Her address is: 507 Cherish Street, Rio Rancho, NM. Feel free to contact her at nanscott4413@msn.com.

Please join us! All are welcome!

May's Book: The Covenant of Water, by Abraham Verghese

For those who would like a head start. This is our last book before the summer break.

Church Calendar

March 29, 2026 - April 4, 2026

March Birthdays

28 Hazel Lathrop

28 Natalie Cato

30 Savannah Ball

30 Cameron Isaacs

30 Arthur Mitchell

April Birthdays

2 Betty Jarous

6 Sharon Hovey

8 Bailey Isaacs

12 Anwi Fomukong

13 Derek Strommen

14 Nathan Secrest

15 Jane McCreary

16 Lisa Gaeta

18 Ruth Bleich

18 Sue Scott

18 Lucy Sanchez

20 Diale Fomukong

20 Cynthia Dyer

21 Isaac Pitts

24 Katie Kuechmann

25 Ariel Whitesinger

26 Jennifer Hall

28 Tim Morris

29 Ryanne Hughes

29 Jadelyn Van Sweden

Found!

Is this Yours??

This bracelet was found in the sanctuary. It is now in the church office. Please see Ginny to claim it or call the Church office: 505-892-6664.

I am so excited to share that our Ghost Ranch Youth Week registration form is now LIVE! We'll be registering our group for the next month -- our registration deadline will be April 15th -- those who register after April 15th will go on a waitlist and their inclusion will be dependent on space available. Please share this information with the youth in your context ASAP so they can consider this opportunity!

Logistics:

- Ghost Ranch Youth Week is available to any youth entering 6th grade in Fall 2026, through graduation seniors

- Cost is $450, of which the Presbytery will cover $125 per student. This leaves $325 for churches and families to split however they choose.  All payments from families should be made to sponsoring churches/schools (the Presbytery will invoice congregations directly, based on the number of youth your church is sending). This is a change in process from years past -- our recommendation would be that churches attempt to cover $200/youth, so that costs for families are limited to $125/youth. This is a great way to invite youth into group fundraising activities and build congregational investment in this experience for your young people. 

- You can read more about the theme and our worship leader in the attached flyer!

Any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. We've had fantastic experiences the past few years, I'm excited for both new and returning youth to have this opportunity!

Peace,

Luke Rembold

Youth and Young Adult Ministry Coordinator, Presbytery of Santa Fe

Flowers for the Easter Cross

On Saturday, April 4th, at 1pm, we will be having our annual flower cutting party to get them ready to be placed on the cross on Easter Sunday. Please bring scissors if you have them. Thank you!

Our Service

Men & Women

Please keep the following people

in your thoughts & prayers:

RJ Van Sweden - US Marines

Tyler Warren - US Marines

Hayden Smith - Army

Sarah Dimmick - Navy

Sgt. Kevin Lomeli - Army National Guard in Kenya

Kevin A. Baker - US Air Force in England

If you have family members serving here or overseas, please call Ginny at the church office to add them to our list. Church Office: 505-892-6664.

Prayer Concerns

“And whatever you ask in Prayer, you will receive, if you have Faith.” Matthew 21:22.

Don Underwood - radiation treatments

Beth Miller - cancer treatments

Sheila Malmo's daughter, Alice

Protection for Everyone against Flu virus

For DR Congo, Gaza, Iran, Israel, Sudan, Afghanistan, and Ukraine.

For all victims of gun violence, war, and unrest.

 Rio Rancho Presbyterian Church

1004 24th Street, SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124

505.892.6664

Office Hours

Monday – Thursday | 9am–3pm

Office email: manager@rrpchurch.org